+++ Press release +++

Innovation Prize for Biomaterial of the Year 2013 awarded to PHA producer Newlight Technologies (USA) at the Cologne International Conference 2013 on Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-based Plastics & Composites

With 180 participants (60% up on 2012) from 23 countries (up 50%), this year's conference further established it as a major industry meeting-place and visitors both grew in number and became more international. Lengthening the conference to three days to provide comprehensive coverage of political, industrial and scientific issues - in conjunction with Professor Dr Jörg Müssig from Bremen University of Applied Science's Bionics Innovation Centre - proved a success. The focus of this year's conference was on the United States and Germany. The large number of American speakers and participants contributed to a thrilling dialogue between the world's two leading industrial biotechnology countries. This year's Innovation Prizes were awarded to Newlight Technologies, LLC (USA), fischerwerke GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), and 4e solutions GmbH - ajaa! & TECNARO GmbH (Germany). Please find the full press release here (PDF).

Highlights from the worldwide leading countries in bio-based economy:
USA & Germany

This conference aims to provide major players from the US and German bio-based chemicals and plastics industries with an opportunity to present and discuss their latest developments and strategies. Representatives of political bodies and associations will also have their say alongside leading companies. For the very first time, the conference will count with a third day especially dedicated to the latest research activities in the field of industrial biotechnology & bio-based plastics. More than 250 participants mainly from industry are expected!

The nova-Institute will present at the conference and for the very first time the results of a multi-client market study of the international bio-based polymers market. It is the first time that a study has looked at every kind of bio-based polymer produced by 247 companies at 363 locations around the world and it examines in detail 114 companies in 135 locations. For detailed information about the market study, please click here.